Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

160. Rory Scovel Returns: How To Do 600 Minutes of Improvised Standup

Feb 10, 2025
Rory Scovel, a comedian and actor celebrated for his improvisational style, returns to share insights from his year-long journey of improvised stand-up. He reveals the emotional challenges of performing without a script and discusses his jealousy of fellow comedians' successes. Rory and Mike delve into how family dynamics complicate a comedian's life, balancing humor with vulnerability. They also explore crafting new jokes around complex topics, blending personal experiences with laughter, emphasizing creativity and adaptability in comedy.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Minutiae in Comedy

  • Comedians often find relatable humor in minute, hyper-focused details.
  • This happens when they tire of broader comedic strokes and venture into uncharted territories.
ADVICE

Improv and Confession

  • Mike Birbiglia considers improvising stand-up but fears revealing too much personal information.
  • Scovel believes Birbiglia already explores material loosely, suggesting he leans into improv more.
ANECDOTE

Married to a Comedian

  • Scovel jokes about the challenges of being married to a comedian, likening it to daily presentations for strangers.
  • He highlights the increasing pressure to perform as a comedian's career progresses.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app